IP Library Granted Patent US 11,053,674
Granted Patent B2
US 11,053,674 · App. 15/879,102 · Granted Jul 6, 2021

Trench drain connection interface

Inventor: Ludovit Dian (Mississauga, CA)
Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
E03F3/046E01C11/227F16L23/12F16L37/084
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,053,674
App. No.
15/879,102
Granted
Jul 6, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trench drain connection interface for connecting a first trench drain to a second trench drain. The trench drain connection interface comprises a male end, a female end, and at least one protrusion. The male end of the first trench drain has a flange. The female end of the second trench drain has a flange-receiving recess. The at least one protrusion is on at least one of the male end and the female end. The male end of the first trench drain is configured to engage the female end of the second trench drain and when the male end engages the female end, the at least one protrusion prevents at least a portion of the flange from contacting an inner surface of the flange-receiving recess, thereby providing clearance between the flange and the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess.

Claims (28)

1. A trench drain connection interface for connecting a first trench drain to a second trench drain, the trench drain connection interface comprising:

a male end of the first trench drain having a flange protruding from and extending along an outwardly-facing wall surface of the first trench drain, wherein the first trench drain has a first base wall and a first opening opposite the first base wall, wherein the flange extends angularly around the outwardly-facing wall surface and perpendicularly to an axial direction of the first trench drain;

a female end of the second trench drain having a flange-receiving recess recessed into and extending along an inwardly-facing wall surface of the second trench drain, wherein the second trench drain has a second base wall and second opening opposite the second base wall;

at least one protrusion on at least one of the male end and the female end; and

wherein the male end of the first trench drain is configured to engage the female end of the second trench drain, and wherein the at least one protrusion is positioned between the flange and the recess and prevents at least a portion of the flange from contacting an inner surface of the flange-receiving recess, thereby providing clearance between the flange and the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess, and wherein the clearance provided between the flange and the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess allows for insertion of a sealant material between the flange and the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess.

2. The trench drain connection interface of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises flange protrusions disposed on opposing ends of the flange.

3. The trench drain connection interface of claim 1 , wherein the flange-receiving recess extends angularly around the inwardly-facing wall surface and perpendicularly to an axial direction of the second trench drain.

4. The trench drain connection interface of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a female end protrusion disposed adjacent the flange-receiving recess on the female end.

5. The trench drain connection interface of claim 1 , further including a locking mechanism disposed on at least one of the male end and the female end.

6. The trench drain connection interface of claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to selectively lock the male end in engagement with the female end.

7. The trench drain connection interface of claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking arm and a locking lip, the locking arm being disposed on one of the male end and the female end and the locking lip being disposed on a different one of the male end and the female end than the locking arm.

8. The trench drain connection interface of claim 7 , wherein the locking arm is biased toward engagement with the locking lip.

9. The trench drain connection interface of claim 8 , wherein the locking arm is elastically deformable between a locked position and an un-locked position and in which the locking arm is biased towards the locked position.

10. The trench drain connection interface of claim 9 , wherein the male end is locked in engagement with the female end.

11. The trench drain connection interface of claim 10 , wherein the locking arm is configured to be selectively disengaged from the locking lip by elastically deforming the locking arm to the unlocked position, thereby selectively unlocking the male end from engagement with the female end.

12. The trench drain connection interface of claim 1 , wherein the first trench drain and the second trench drain both define a passageway, wherein the clearance includes a volume, and wherein the volume does not extend completely around the passageway.

13. The trench drain connection interface of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion prevents the flange from contacting the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess.

14. A trench drain connection interface for connecting a first trench drain to a second trench drain, the trench drain connection interface comprising:

a male end of the first trench drain having a flange protruding from and extending along an outwardly-facing wall surface of the first trench drain, wherein the first trench drain has a first base wall and a first opening opposite the first base wall, and wherein the first trench drain defines a first axis;

a female end of the second trench drain having a flange-receiving recess recessed into and extending along an inwardly-facing wall surface of the second trench drain, wherein the second trench drain has a second base wall and a second opening opposite the second base wall;

a locking mechanism disposed on at least one of the male end and the female end; and

wherein the male end of the first trench drain is configured to engage the female end of the second trench drain, when the male end engages the female end, the locking mechanism is configured to selectively lock the male end in engagement with the female end, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to bias the first trench drain away from the second trench drain along the first axis.

15. The trench drain connection interface of claim 14 , further comprising at least one protrusion on at least one of the male end and the female end and when the male end engages the female end, the at least one protrusion prevents at least a portion of the flange from contacting an inner surface of the flange-receiving recess, thereby providing clearance between the flange and the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess.

16. The trench drain connection interface of claim 15 , wherein the clearance provided between the flange and the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess allows for insertion of a sealant material between the flange and the inner surface of the flange-receiving recess.

17. The trench drain connection interface of claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking arm and a locking lip, the locking arm being disposed on one of the male end and the female end and the locking lip being disposed on a different one of the male end and the female end than the locking arm.

18. The trench drain connection interface of claim 17 , wherein the locking arm is biased toward engagement with the locking lip and, when the locking arm engages the locking lip, the male end is locked in engagement with the female end.

19. The trench drain connection interface of claim 18 , wherein the locking arm is elastically deformable between a locked position and an un-locked position, the locking arm being biased towards the locked position.

20. The trench drain connection interface of claim 19 , wherein the locking arm is configured to be selectively disengaged from the locking lip by elastically deforming the locking arm to the unlocked position, thereby selectively unlocking the male end from engagement with the female end.

Assignments (8)
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY OF REEL/FRAME 057893/0121 Recorded Feb 20, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS PRIOR AGENT (F/K/A CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 074945/0935 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY OF REEL/FRAME 066293/0879 Recorded Feb 20, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS PRIOR AGENT (F/K/A CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 074947/0479 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066336/0603 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN WATER, LLC
Reel/Frame 066337/0918 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 057893, FRAME 0121 Recorded Dec 19, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC (F/K/A ZURN INDUSTRIES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 066067/0937 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2023
From: ZURN WATER, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066293/0879 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2021
From: AMERICAN DRYER LLC; GREEN TURTLE AMERICAS LTD.; WORLD DRYER CORPORATION; ZURN PEX, INC.; ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057893/0121 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2018
From: DIAN, LUDOVIT
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 044719/0613 →